Jacobs Debt Recovery chasing a Housing Benefit Overpayment from 2002

[cheesecake1978]

Hi,

firstly apologies if im posting in the wrong place.

 

Ive received a letter as above from a debt recovery agency chasing a HB overpayment from 2002.

 

im lucky to have a reasonably good income and ive never fallen behind on any debt whether it be my mortgage or credit cards etc.

 

now im not disputing that this debt may have existed as the 2 month time period that it is referring to is around the time i had my son and times were much more difficult for me then.

 

what concerns me is that

 

1, ive never had anything to tell me that this debt exists until now (11 yrs later) and

2, if i pay the money to Jacobs am i just lining the pockets of the recovery agency not actually paying the debt to the council?

 

the letter itself is quite frightening.

it advises me that they will take court action against me and that i will be liable for further court costs etc.

 

finally ive got a good credit history and i really dont want it to be affected by something like this

 

any advice will be welcome

thanks

[dx100uk]

I think you'll find they are acting as debt collectors here and NOT bailiffs

 

the only people that could get the money back are DWP

and they will most prob take it from any future benefit

 

certainly cant send in the bailiffs.

 

can you scan up the letter please

set your default scan page size to A4 less than 300DPI [150 will do]

scan the required letters/agreements/sheets - as a picture[jpg] file

don't forget you can use a mobile phone or a digital camera too!!

'

BUT......

ENSURE: remove all pers info inc. barcodes etc using paint program

but leave all monetary figures and dates.

*********************************************************

{DO NOT USE A BIRO OR PEN OR USE SEE THRU TAPE OR LABELS]

try www.pdfescape.com TO BLANK STUFF,

*************************************************************

or

DO IT IN MSPAINT.EXE or any photo editing program

goto one of the many free online pdf converter websites ...

http://freejpgtopdf.com/

..

if you have multiple scans/pics

put them in a word doc FIRST and convert that to PDF

or use www.pdfmerge.com

 

convert existing PC files to PDF [office has an installable print to PDF option]

..

 

it would be better to upload a multipage pdf if

you have many images too rather than many single pdfs

.

or if you have PDF as an installed printer drive use that

or use word and save as pdf

try and logically name your file so people know what it is.

though dont use full bank names or CAG in the title

i'e Default notice dd-mm-yyyy TSB

.

open a new msg box here

hit go advanced below the msg box

hit manage attachments below that box

hit the add files button on the top right

hit select files, navigate to your file on your pc

hit upload files

.

dx

[dx100uk]

and it cant trash your cra file either

 

dx

[ploddertom]

If you are going to deal with anyone then contact the original creditor.

[danmcr]

What's wrong with dealing with Jacobs? My experience of debt collectors is when you get past all the BS you can get a good repayment plan and in some cases some money off as an incentive to pay off the debt.

 

There is no harm whatsoever in calling Jacobs and seeing what sort of payment pan you can get, call off a withheld number and if they're being difficult terminate the call and try setting up a plan with DWP. However as I pointed out you may get a better payment plan out of Jacobs as they will be able to call someone at DWP who can give a yes or no answer to your offer not some call centre person who's reading off a script.

 

Good Luck.

[citizenB]

Should the OP not be able to establish how this debt has come about ?

 

I am very worried that Councils/DWP are pursuing for debts that are historic without any proof that they do exist, leaving it to the victims to prove that it isn't owed ?

[ploddertom]

What's wrong with dealing with Jacobs? My experience of debt collectors is when you get past all the BS you can get a good repayment plan and in some cases some money off as an incentive to pay off the debt.

 

The only response they will get from Jacobs will be all the usual bluff, bluster & arrogance not to mention the rudeness. Unfortunately they cannot help themselves as this seems to be how they were taught to respond. They just can't help themselves as they believe everyone is guilty even if proven otherwise.

 

There is no harm whatsoever in calling Jacobs and seeing what sort of payment pan you can get, call off a withheld number and if they're being difficult terminate the call and try setting up a plan with DWP. However as I pointed out you may get a better payment plan out of Jacobs as they will be able to call someone at DWP who can give a yes or no answer to your offer not some call centre person who's reading off a script.

 

Good Luck.

 

Should the OP not be able to establish how this debt has come about ? Precisely

 

I am very worried that Councils/DWP are pursuing for debts that are historic without any proof that they do exist, leaving it to the victims to prove that it isn't owed ? Which for most is nigh on impossible but the onus of proof has to be on them.

 

PT